Hey friends! Even though we're about two weeks in, let me wish you a happy New Year! A new year comes with all sorts of possibilities: losing some holiday weight {or, *ahem*, in my case baby weight}, sticking to resolutions for a few months ;) and a stirring of hope that a new year will bring new surprises...you never know what can happen in a year, am I right?

And with that, RSP has a new year update for ya, there's a little sabbatical going on right now for the business. If you happened to visit my 'contact' page, you'll have noticed I'm not currently booking any new sessions. Ummm, didn't I just go on maternity leave a little while ago? *hang my head* Yes, yes I did. But it was pretty clear after I started doing sessions again after having Shay that some things needed to change. I love, love, love my clients and capturing their life events. But trying to balance two kiddos who are 15 months apart, and actually be present with them during the day {and not want to sneak away and edit some pictures} was becoming difficult. My two girlies need their mom to be intentional, awake and joyful...and while joy is supernatural and I need to depend on the Lord for that, being alert and intentional with them is completely on me. When I was pregnant with Shay, Emmy would go to bed at 7 pm and I would edit the night away. Now, with a new baby who still gets up once a night to eat {and I'm convinced she also does this to spend some quality time with me}, by the time they are both in bed at 7, I'm usually falling asleep on the couch by 8:15 pm. I'm tons-o-fun in this season of life right now. So, I'm taking a little business break. What you will notice is that I have a few sessions that will be posted here in the next few months, those were sessions already booked before I made this decision. Most likely I'll be booking sessions again in the Spring, when I shake the winter snow out of my hair, finally shave my legs, and officially come out of hibernation.

So! In the meantime, I get to post more personal blogs, including a little mini session I did recently with my baby Shay, or as I call her in my high-pitched-only-for-babies voice "Shay Shay". And might I note that pre-kids I used to loathe when people would get all high pitched and squeally around babies. *raises hand* I am now one of those people.

I was given a swaddle blanket from my sweet friend Laura Irion, who won this blanket and a clutch from Ellie Funday. I benefited from the fact that Laura's youngest is a toddler and, while Shay is slowly growing out of the swaddle stage, I'm still able to take full advantage of this blanket. And y'all...this blanket. This. Blanket. Its as soft as her own bottom. And not only is it made of organic cotton, hand-embroidered in India and super soft, the mission of Ellie Funday is also fantastic, "We work with partner organizations that employ marginalized women in India specifically helping them become self-sustaining. Our hope is to provide a fair wage, relevant job training and a dignified living for many who are susceptible to human trafficking." So honorable. How can you not love that? So, here's Miss Shay in her swaddle blanket, thanks again to Laura for not having any kids after Canden ;)